Unions praise Trump on steel tariffs

Unions praise Trump on steel tariffs

by Sean Higgins | Mar 2, 2018, 2:15 PM

Labor unions are lauding President Trump's announcement of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, which have been highly criticized by most businesses, saying the move would help U.S. workers.

Trump on Thursday announced tariffs of 25 percent on steel imports and 10 percent on aluminum imports.

"The admin’s steel & aluminum tariffs are good steps towards fixing predatory practices that hurt workers & cheat companies that produce in US. @SecretaryRoss @USTradeRep & Dir Navarro have rightly advocated for these actions despite opposition from the Wall St wing of the admin," tweeted Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, the nation's largest labor federation, late Thursday.

The United Steel Workers, which has long called for such actions, said "it's about time" and mounted an extended defense of the tariffs from critics. "#Steelworkers have fought for action like this for decades. We want to work with the administration as it finalizes relief to ensure that cheaters are held accountable so we can rebuild our nation’s manufacturing sector & protect national security."

The union added: "For the USW, the objective has always been to restore market-based economics that ensure that our domestic producers can achieve a fair return as they invest in facilities, equipment and people, and contribute to the strength of our nation. The objective should also be to reduce the negative impact of steel and aluminum imports that have decimated production in the United States. The tariff levels the president announced will help to achieve that objective."

USW, which also represents workers in Canada, made a point of saying that imports from Canada were not the problem but that leaders there needed to work with the U.S. on the issue. "The defense and intelligence relationship between the countries is unique and integral to our security. Any solution must exempt Canadian production. At the same time, Canada must commit to robust enforcement and enhance its cooperation to address global overcapacity in steel and aluminum."

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/un...rticle/2650558

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We want to work with the administration as it finalizes relief to ensure that cheaters are held accountable so we can rebuild our nation’s manufacturing sector & protect national security."

The objective should also be to reduce the negative impact of steel and aluminum imports that have decimated production in the United States. The tariff levels the president announced will help to achieve that objective."

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Even though I'm angry with Trump for not keeping his promises on illegal immigration, I am very happy about these tariffs he imposed on imported steel and aluminum.

Here in the midwest, the "steel belt", which is now called the "rust belt", thanks to traitor politicians who allowed this imported steel to destroy our manufacturing base here in the midwest, it wasn't only that most of the steel mills closing, that cost hundreds of thousands of steel workers to lose their jobs, but it was a chain reaction. Welding (fabrication) shops and machine shops, as well as other kinds of small businesses, that did work for the mills, also closed when most of the mills closed. It was a chain reaction that decimated jobs here in the midwest.

And take into account the workers who went to restaurants and other food places where the workers went on their lunch hour that also closed when these workers were gone. Also take into account with so many jobs that the mills created all the money being spent in the local economy, all sorts of stores, where workers would go with their families to buy things; new appliances for the home, school clothes for the kids, taking the family out to dinner, taking the family out to fun places in the local area, buying all kinds of things that people wanted because of the extra money in their pockets, and so on and so on.

I am extremely happy about this and I thank Trump greatly for doing this and keeping of one his very important promises. Now he needs to start keeping ALL his promises and start doing something about the illegals as well.

I've got a foot in two different camps on this. While I am conscience of the negative impact manufacturing steel and aluminum has on our environment, I'm also of the belief we should be fully capable of producing and manufacturing our own steel and aluminum. For example, flashback to 1939. What would we have done without the capabilities of providing our own steel and aluminum during World War II? Yes, having the capability of producing large quantities of steel and aluminum is important to our national security.

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Originally Posted by MW

For example, flashback to 1939. What would we have done without the capabilities of providing our own steel and aluminum during World War II? Yes, having the capability of producing large quantities of steel and aluminum is important to our national security.

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That's another thing. If we allowed our steel industry and manufacturing industry to go to other countries, and WW3 broke out, how are we supposed to ask the countries that are now attacking us to sell us steel or manufacture the things we need in order to fight back? We would be absolutely defenseless. No, we need to be self-sufficient in our capabilities to produce everything we need.

And as far as the environment goes, there are new technologies coming out everyday to make these processes even cleaner. Which again, creates even more jobs.

And I think our next tariffs should on heavy machinery. A lot of businesses here in the Chicago area that used to make heavy machinery, all closed because we now buy that stuff from other countries. Things like very large brake presses, shears, etc.

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Originally Posted by 6 Million Dollar Man

Even though I'm angry with Trump for not keeping his promises on illegal immigration, I am very happy about these tariffs he imposed on imported steel and aluminum.

Here in the midwest, the "steel belt", which is now called the "rust belt", thanks to traitor politicians who allowed this imported steel to destroy our manufacturing base here in the midwest, it wasn't only that most of the steel mills closing, that cost hundreds of thousands of steel workers to lose their jobs, but it was a chain reaction. Welding (fabrication) shops and machine shops, as well as other kinds of small businesses, that did work for the mills, also closed when most of the mills closed. It was a chain reaction that decimated jobs here in the midwest.

And take into account the workers who went to restaurants and other food places where the workers went on their lunch hour that also closed when these workers were gone. Also take into account with so many jobs that the mills created all the money being spent in the local economy, all sorts of stores, where workers would go with their families to buy things; new appliances for the home, school clothes for the kids, taking the family out to dinner, taking the family out to fun places in the local area, buying all kinds of things that people wanted because of the extra money in their pockets, and so on and so on.

I am extremely happy about this and I thank Trump greatly for doing this and keeping of one his very important promises. Now he needs to start keeping ALL his promises and start doing something about the illegals as well.

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I would also like to mention that to produce steel, you need coal and iron ore. The coal comes from the southeastern states. This will put many out-of-work coal miners back to work, so they can support their families.

Also, the coal needs to get to the mills via trains. This would increase employment at the railroads, which is a very good paying job.

I can go on and on, on the positive ripple effects of bringing our steel jobs back.

Back in the 1950s, when all of our steel mills were all fired up and running at full capacity, the country was extremely prosperous and everyone was working, making very good money where only the man of the family needed to work to support an entire family. Once the mills started shutting down, due to foreign steel, that's when everything went to hell